But for us it was back to our bikes for the off road section - though it wasn't really off road initially. However there was soon some single track through the woods where it was bumpy, sloppy and muddy - also some very steep hills which I had to hike up. My calf muscles had started hurting about 30 miles in and now they really hurt - but I tried to ignore it. I did go through a bit of a bad patch here - maybe paying the price for trying to go too fast earlier.
When we started that morning the weather had been pretty miserable and it was raining - however as soon as we really got underway the weather just got better and better - of course that meant I soon had too many clothes on and as I stripped off I had to find somewhere to put them - shoved in pockets and sticking out of my top - so that was a bit of a pain! Also I had had the brilliant idea of zip tieing my running shoes to my bike as I didn't have any space in my backpack - however it turned out to be not such a good idea as they were continually in my way, especially when I had to stand for the steep parts where they just bashed in to my knees!! A good idea that didnt really work and made the single track section annoying!! After some time on a gravel road we were back on the single track and the bolt fell out of my water bottle holder making my bottle rattle all over the place - quite funny really! Back on the road again and I realised I had overtaken quite a few people by now as I couldn't really see anyone off in the distance any more. Felt good though. I had ridden as hard as I could on the first ride but took it a bit easier on the second as I knew I had a hike up a mountain ahead of me! At the end of this bike ride we had our times recorded - the clock was stopped to give you a chance to get organised for the last section. So I left my bike at Glen Nevis and was surprised to see only 5 others there before me - I was in a really good position. So I was now able to get changed and get rid of all the extra clothes ready to head off up the mountain - Ben Nevis. I tried running for about 5 minutes but decided that hurt too much and that I would fast hike instead!
I felt pretty good the whole time except for one bad patch - I decided my goal was to finish and still feel good rather than try to run to gain a few places and then collapse half way up the hill. So a few people overtook me on this section but as we got into it a bit more I could see others in front of me also struggling to run too so I didnt feel so bad. Wasn't just my complete lack of running training - everyone was feeling the same. We hiked up a gravel road for a while, then a path and then up the mountain side - we zig zagged around and got all bundled up at one stage - and approached a steep rockside which I managed to scramble up faster than some of the others in the group - however they then overtook me going down!! The down was awful - wet grass - I fell over a few times as did others ahead of me - in fact you could see the marks of where they had fallen! That section was pretty hard! By now my ankles, calves and knees were all burning and I was ready to be done. You could see Loch Leven at the bottom - but it was really difficult to get to it down a very steep and awkward hill - but eventually we did with another very painful 1 mile run along the road to reach the final kayak. Once again we paired up with the closest person - I was with a guy from the RAF - was quite cool chatting with him. When we reached the other side of the Loch we ran for the Finish line and I was told I was in 16th place! So I was very happy about that!!
I felt good that I had done so well despite not having been able to put in the training I should have - especially with the running. Today was the longest run/hike I have ever tried and the longest bike ride I have been able to attempt for quite a while, having been feeling so ill since Africa. So yes - pretty pleased with myself. The scenery was very cool - breathtaking, and the weather has been awesome - a glorious day, which really helped! Absolutely shattered when I finished! Great fun!!
My time was 10 hours 40 minutes - not too bad all in all. Average heart rate was about 170 - very high in the morning but I slowed down a little in the afternoon! Great fun!! Did I say that already?
Only trouble is I originally thought Dean was coming so didn't really organise the transport very well. So looks like I will have to get up in the morning and cycle coast to coast again to pick up my car. Then I will drive back here again to see Ruth and Alice finish tomorrow.
PS.
I did indeeed cycle back the next morning - 98 miles! And got back just in time to see the girls finish. I was absolutely exhausted!!
